Thursday, October 22, 2026
“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).
If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?
Since Christian songs should “teach [instruct]” and “admonish [warn]” (Colossians 3:16), the quality of the doctrine their lyrics communicate determine their spiritual value. Indeed, just as preaching about Christ can be iniquity (see Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Corinthians 11:3,4,13-15), so singing about Him can be sinful too. “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). To worship God “in spirit” is internal (not external); “in truth” is correctness (not error). “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Philippians 3:3).
As with prayer, Christendom wrongly greatly emphasizes physical posture concerning music. Unless you are kneeling, closing your eyes, and folding your hands, they do not regard your praying as “most spiritual.” Similarly, so as to fit in, you must raise your hands, shake or dance, and sing for extended periods of time during a “worship service”—the louder the music, the longer the singing, the more praise God allegedly receives. Certainly, ancient Israel outwardly appeared to worship God (Isaiah 1:10-20; Amos 5:21-27) by offering animal sacrifices, burning incense, keeping a religious calendar with feasts, spreading their hands, and making many prayers. Yet, all of it was fakery, external (formalism, showiness) instead of internal (faith, truth). None of it appealed to the LORD; it actually made Him so nauseous He even refused to look on it!
Physical positions are inconsequential when one’s heart is still in unbelief: “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias [Isaiah 29:13] prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:7-9; cf. Mark 7:6,7). Whether Christ’s earthly ministry or 700 years before, the Jews sang and talked about “the LORD” without simultaneously having faith in Him. Likewise, Christendom has done it for two millennia….
